Character design, typography, technical repeats, mock ups..

…until the start of our next class!

Next Monday (February 13, 2017), our hugely inspiring, idea generating, career-propelling, advanced online surface pattern design course – The Ultimate Portfolio Builder starts. (Followed by Modules 1 and 2 a week later on February 20!).

Over the next few days we’ll share some of the key ways our course has helped propel the careers of those who’ve experienced it and how it can help yours to flourish too.

TECHNICAL MASTERCLASSES

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Throughout the Ultimate Portfolio Builder, you can find a series of video-based technical masterclasses led by industry experts.

These are designed to give you in-depth knowledge in a specific area of design including: Character design, typography, using mixed media and photography in pattern design, repeats and mock-ups.

Every designer works differently and has their own preferred methods, and watching your peers at work can be invaluable for picking up new hints and tips to grow as a designer and streamline your own design processes.

Here’s what’s in store:

Week 1

Masterclasses presented by Allison Cole:

Tips For Creating a Successful Character Part A – Learn the basic elements of building a character design by developing a face and body for a character
Tips For Creating a Successful Character Part B – Following on from Part A, Allison focuses on hints and tips for working with scanned, hand-drawn imagery for successful character design.

Week 2

Masterclasses presented by Faye Brown:

Working With Typography Part A – Faye offers lots of hints and tips for creating graphic styles of typography, including; choosing the right typeface, layout tips and then looking at some more specific tools and techniques using Illustrator.
Working With Typography Part B – Following on from Part A, Faye focuses on ways to create and illustrate your own lettering that could lead to creating a whole typeface.

Week 3

Masterclasses presented by Adrian O’Meara:

Working With Mixed Media Part A – Hints and tips for working with mixed media art originals (demonstrated with the work of Kelly-Rae Roberts)
Working With Mixed Media Part B – Learn how to create a half-drop repeat from your mixed media art originals (demonstrated with the work of Kelly-Rae Roberts)
Working With Photography Part A – Hints and tips for editing and manipulating photography
Working With Photography Part B – Learn how to create seamless repeats with your own photography

Week 4

Masterclasses presented by Jessica Hogarth:

Working With Repeats Part A – Hints and tips for creating a technical half-drop repeat tile
Working With Repeats Part B – Hints and tips for creating a half-drop repeat suitable for wallpaper

Masterclasses presented by Adrian O’Meara:

Creating Mock Ups Part A – How to render patterns onto stock photography (demonstrated using Rachael Taylor’s artwork)
Creating Mock Ups Part Mock Ups B – Learn how to use different techniques and effects to create a realistic fabric product mock-up and create a fill a whole room set with your designs (demonstrated using Rachael Taylor’s artwork)

Meet the tutors

We know that you will absolutely love watching our masterclass leaders in action. You’re guaranteed to learn so much no matter how experienced you already are.

Each video is supported by a PDF transcript including step-by-step visuals and you’ll have access to these masterclasses for up to six months after the class ends so you can really take your time and refer back to them.

The Ultimate Portfolio Builder starts on Monday – get in quick and join us for a wild portfolio building adventure!

WGSN

BE A TREND AWARE PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER – WE GIVE YOU FREE ACCESS FOR 90 DAYS TO WGSN

WGSN is one of the world’s leading trend resources, and is usually only accessible to people working in companies with big budgets. However we are thrilled to be able to offer The Ultimate Portfolio Builder students 90 days’ free access and know you’ll be blown away by what the site offers.

We are committed to giving you the best possible grounding as a surface pattern designer and have invested significantly in it on your behalf. This will enable you to get free access to accurate trend information to support your design decisions and give you a competitive edge.

You’ll get full access to the sites amazing resources including; Trend Reports helping to give you clear direction and inspiration to create leading edge, market-right designs, an enormous Image Library containing over 10 million high-res images covering catwalks, global retail and trade shows and invaluable tools such as Design Tutorials.

The Ultimate Portfolio Builder in association with Printsource New York, complete with WGSN is a powerful combination that will give you all the tools you need for professional surface pattern design.

We hope you can join us for The Ultimate Portfolio Building experience starting February 13, 2017

join us

The Ultimate Portfolio Builder does exactly what it says on the tin. Here you’ll grow and refine your body of commercially viable work and strengthen your professional design portfolio in just a few weeks. The course is brought to you in association with Printsource New York to give you the ultimate fast-track to trade show success. It is designed to push you out of your comfort zone and propel you to the next level. Class starts February 13, 2017.

Module 1: Designing your way is ideal if you’re just starting out on this exciting surface pattern design journey, returning after a career break or if everything has just got too complicated and you want to take it back to the basics and fall in love with design all over again. Class starts February 20, 2017

Join us for Module 2: Creating your professional identity you will learn how to develop your brand image, design advanced technical repeats in Photoshop and Illustrator, put a collection together and start your own label. You will also discover how to understand and predict trends, get noticed and attract the press, and protect your work. This is for you if you have a basic understanding of surface pattern design and now want to get noticed and make a name for yourself. Class starts February 20, 2017